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Full text of Damian Green's article

Archie Norman, who after eight frustrating years as a Conservative politician has returned to the business world, said recently that Conservative MPs rather enjoy leadership elections because it makes them feel that they are doing something. As I contemplate the fifth leadership challenge in ten years, I can tell Archie that I have now extracted whatever enjoyment I once had in this recreation, and that I hope the current leadership contest is the last for more than a decade.

What the Conservatives need is a new leader who can reach out across the Party but even more importantly reach out beyond its current support. Even after the recent gains in seat numbers in the Commons, we are a party whose support has moved back to the South East, up the age range and down the social scale. If this is a “core vote” strategy it is a very peculiar one.